Day 3 :
I can think of various words to describe todays card from a punting perspective, but I will settle on 'trappy'.
Stable form is important at 3 and 4 day festivals such as this. Going well are the Newmarket stables of John Gosden and Sir Michael Stoute. Charles Hills, who trains Equitorial, favourite for the Sprint Championship for 3 y.olds, is drastically out of form (35 losers on the bounce when I looked a couple of days ago), as is Robert Cowell. also famous for training sprinters. Aiden O'brien has had a couple of his Group 1 fillies run disappointingly, and had only been hitting the crossbar (another topical metaphor there) up till sweeping the board with a 1,2,3 in the Queens Vase (Group 2).
O'Brien's form, or lack of it, is a slight concern to me as I have backed his Merchant Navy in Saturday's 6 furlong Championship, the Diamond Jubilee.
Another trainer with an excellent past record at Royal Ascot is Wesley Ward, responsible for Shang Shang Shang in the opener - a 2 y.old 5 furlong event. But his runners have so far shown little despite the trainer extolling their chances (notably Lady Aurelia. Ward trains in the USA where sprinters are trained to race hard from the gate so expect this one to blaze the trail. Will it last out over Ascots uphill course?
Nobody knows and considering these juveniles can improve lengths between races, I am content to pass this one and watch only.
The second race is the Group 3 (the least valuable and prestigious of the Group races) Hampton Court, won last year by Benbatl, the Derby 5th or 6th, and that is the level. There are 2 horses in this (Hunting Horn and Key Victory)who ran unplaced but close up in the French equivalent, the Prix Du Jockey Club and I suppose thats the best form on offer. But its untested form. The others have indeterminate credentials, so the race is another watcher. Wadilsafa has a good speed figure and is trained by Owen Burrows, who IS in form, but is stepping up from maiden company and should be found wanting in a Group 3. I will be watching him for a possible bet when he returns to more appropriate company.
The Ribblesdale is a middle distance fillies Championship - Ascot's Oaks, if you like. The runner up in that race goes - Wild Illusion - and is vying for favouritism with an impressive maiden winner from the Stoute yard who missed the Oaks to wait for this race - Sun Maiden. Throw in the Chester Oaks Trial winner Magic Wand, who sorely disappointed her backers in the Epsom Oaks (me included) and you have an interesting 3 way contest. But no bet.
I dont take much interest in long distance races, so the Gold Cup, over 2.5 miles, whilst a great spectacle and of huge value, doesnt float my boat, and the Britannia, the mile handicap which follows is ludicrously difficult to unravel. A comment that applies equally to the concluding event the 1.5 mile King George V Handicap.
Jack NSM
(I have just got rid of over half my Alpha Centauri bet at advantageous rates, following the eclipse of It Could Be Love, runner up to it in the Irish 1000 Guineas. The form has been devalued do you see..I have £20 at 5/1 and laid £12 off at 4/1)
I can think of various words to describe todays card from a punting perspective, but I will settle on 'trappy'.
Stable form is important at 3 and 4 day festivals such as this. Going well are the Newmarket stables of John Gosden and Sir Michael Stoute. Charles Hills, who trains Equitorial, favourite for the Sprint Championship for 3 y.olds, is drastically out of form (35 losers on the bounce when I looked a couple of days ago), as is Robert Cowell. also famous for training sprinters. Aiden O'brien has had a couple of his Group 1 fillies run disappointingly, and had only been hitting the crossbar (another topical metaphor there) up till sweeping the board with a 1,2,3 in the Queens Vase (Group 2).
O'Brien's form, or lack of it, is a slight concern to me as I have backed his Merchant Navy in Saturday's 6 furlong Championship, the Diamond Jubilee.
Another trainer with an excellent past record at Royal Ascot is Wesley Ward, responsible for Shang Shang Shang in the opener - a 2 y.old 5 furlong event. But his runners have so far shown little despite the trainer extolling their chances (notably Lady Aurelia. Ward trains in the USA where sprinters are trained to race hard from the gate so expect this one to blaze the trail. Will it last out over Ascots uphill course?
Nobody knows and considering these juveniles can improve lengths between races, I am content to pass this one and watch only.
The second race is the Group 3 (the least valuable and prestigious of the Group races) Hampton Court, won last year by Benbatl, the Derby 5th or 6th, and that is the level. There are 2 horses in this (Hunting Horn and Key Victory)who ran unplaced but close up in the French equivalent, the Prix Du Jockey Club and I suppose thats the best form on offer. But its untested form. The others have indeterminate credentials, so the race is another watcher. Wadilsafa has a good speed figure and is trained by Owen Burrows, who IS in form, but is stepping up from maiden company and should be found wanting in a Group 3. I will be watching him for a possible bet when he returns to more appropriate company.
The Ribblesdale is a middle distance fillies Championship - Ascot's Oaks, if you like. The runner up in that race goes - Wild Illusion - and is vying for favouritism with an impressive maiden winner from the Stoute yard who missed the Oaks to wait for this race - Sun Maiden. Throw in the Chester Oaks Trial winner Magic Wand, who sorely disappointed her backers in the Epsom Oaks (me included) and you have an interesting 3 way contest. But no bet.
I dont take much interest in long distance races, so the Gold Cup, over 2.5 miles, whilst a great spectacle and of huge value, doesnt float my boat, and the Britannia, the mile handicap which follows is ludicrously difficult to unravel. A comment that applies equally to the concluding event the 1.5 mile King George V Handicap.
Jack NSM
(I have just got rid of over half my Alpha Centauri bet at advantageous rates, following the eclipse of It Could Be Love, runner up to it in the Irish 1000 Guineas. The form has been devalued do you see..I have £20 at 5/1 and laid £12 off at 4/1)